Downsizing in Aurora: How to Let Go of the Stuff, Then Choose the Right Next Home

Selling the house you raised a family in is a different kind of sale. The real estate part is usually the easy part. The hard part is everything inside the house, and deciding what kind of home comes next. Years ago our team put together a short guide for clients in exactly this spot. I still think it holds up, so here it is, applied to Aurora.

Sorting a lifetime of possessions without burning out

Saying good-bye to things you've kept for decades isn't easy. It can feel like throwing away memories. A few things make it more manageable:

• Give yourself time. Set aside a few hours a day instead of trying to do it all in a weekend. A couple of weeks to a month is reasonable.
• Start with the easy stuff. Expired medications first. Then the things you already know you want gone in the garage, laundry room, linen closet and kitchen. Then clothing that no longer fits.
• Go room by room, item by item. Collections are the hardest. If they're headed for a box you'll never open, now is the time to decide.
• Skip the "maybe" pile. Make a yes pile and a no pile. The maybe pile has a way of becoming the biggest pile and stopping progress cold.
• Sell what you can. Online marketplaces, consignment stores and yard sales all have a place.
• Give heirlooms now. If you were planning to leave your son the antique clock or your daughter the china, consider giving it to them now. You get to see them enjoy it.
• Hire help if you need it. There are businesses that do nothing but help people downsize and move. We have recommendations.

Choosing the next home: three common options

A single-family ranch. You own the house and the land, you get the most privacy, and you can change the inside and outside however you like. The downside: the lawn, the leaves, the driveway and every repair are still yours.

A condominium. You own your unit, and a monthly fee covers the common areas and, depending on the association, a lot of the exterior work. The downsides: there may be rules on pets or extra vehicles, and some condos have two stories, which matters if stairs are a concern.

A townhouse or attached home. Shared walls, but nobody living above you, and some include exterior maintenance like a condo. The downsides: association rules, possible stairs and closer neighbors.

What that looks like in Aurora

Aurora has options that blend low maintenance with a community feel. Walden is one example. The community is organized into condominium associations, has round-the-clock security, and offers optional membership in Club Walden for golf, tennis, swimming, fitness and dining. Walden isn't the only option in Aurora, and it isn't right for everyone, but it shows the kind of lower-maintenance living many downsizers want without leaving town.

Whatever you choose, make sure it's a home that can adapt as you age, so you aren't moving again in a few years: a first-floor bedroom and full bath, laundry on the main level, and an entry without a flight of steps.

Selling the Aurora house

On the selling side, Aurora doesn't require a city point-of-sale inspection, according to the Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors point-of-sale guide, so you won't be scheduling a city inspector before closing.

In a well-kept family home, the most valuable prep is often the downsizing itself. Less stuff makes rooms look bigger in photos and showings. After that, focus on the things buyers notice: fresh paint where it's needed, working fixtures and a clean, uncluttered garage and basement.

Buy first or sell first?

The order of operations is the other big decision. Some downsizers need the sale proceeds to buy the next place. Others can buy first and sell after. Each has tradeoffs:

• Sell first: you know exactly what you have to spend, but you may need a short-term place to stay or a delayed move-out.
• Buy first: one move and no rush, but you may carry two homes for a while.

Talk through both before you list, because the choice changes your timeline and your negotiating position.

Bring the family in early

Downsizing usually affects more than one person. Adult children may want certain items, may help with the move, or may have opinions about where you land next. Talk with them early, before the listing date is set, so decisions about heirlooms and timing aren't made in a rush. It's also a good time to make sure everyone knows the plan, which takes a lot of stress out of the final weeks.

Thinking about downsizing from Aurora?

We can help with all of it, from the timeline to the next home to the people who help you sort and move. Schedule a time with me or someone on our team at 21mike.com.

Mike Ferrante
The Mike Team at LPT Realty
www.21mike.com
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